subject: The Mystery Behind Googles +1 [print this page] From the days of Google Buzz, the +1 button has been a mystery for both users and content producers. Google says that the +1 button aims to help people discover and share useful content from the people they already know and trust. When someone clicks +1 for a piece of content, it gets displayed in +1 tab in his Google+ profile. It also comes in Google search results and on websites with a +1 button.
Jack Menzel, director of product management for Google Search further revealed that now Google+ users would be able to search across information that is private and only shared to them and not just the public web. Ian Lurie from the blog Conversation Marketing, in Search plus Your World (launched recently by Google) further accentuated the point by telling that search results receiving most number +1s actually show up higher in results.
Google's +1: Impacting Social Search Performance of a Website:
Having more +1s does not necessarily guarantee higher search result rankings. The +1 is basically a stamp of approval. This plus one will help you to determine how many people +1'd the content. When you search for the same phrase after signing in to your Google account, you would be able to see who among your Google+ connections actually 1'd the content.
How can it be Useful in SEO?
In India, SEO services can cash from this feature. Every +1'd link normally has a higher Click-Through-Rate (CTR). This maximizes its chances of being shared on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and other social networks. It has also been tested that the more a link is shared around on Twitter and Facebook, the higher is its search ranking. Thus, it would lead to better SEO.
The Crux of the Story
The SEO impacts of +1 are very indirect. Thus, one must continue traditional SEO practices such as link building, relevant keywords, and URL structure for achieving higher website page ranking. Most of the firms offering SEO in India believe that.
The Google +1 feature is still in its experimental stage. Google said, For +1's, as with any new ranking signal, we are starting carefully and learning how those signals affect search quality. However, SEO Expert Erin Everhart (352 Media Group) also positively said, I dont think we live in a world, nor will we ever live in a world, where any social cue doesnt have influence over SEO.
So, be hopeful and keep learning about Googles +1.
